CSR: Why It Matters and the Role of Women

On Tuesday, June 2nd, Leadarise NYC hosted a fireside chat at Wix Lounge on CSR and The Future of Innovation in CSR with Susan McPherson.

Susan defines CSR as simply, “Doing the right thing for your people and your planet” and explained that more and more companies are thinking of CSR as a core part of their business.

Take for example Nike. Back in the 90’s, the company was known for its low wages, mistreatment of workers in sweatshops, and using child labor in underdeveloped countries. After numerous protests and public outcry, they’ve made significant changes and today are working towards more sustainable policies and publicly share their progress.

Today, new companies are emerging which are founded in sustainable beliefs and completely taking certain industries by storm. Zady, Warby Parker and Honest Company, are some of the top sustainable companies, according to Susan.

We asked Susan about the role of women in CSR and in her opinion, it’s a very significant one. “Women are tremendous communicators and in CSR, you have to be good at developing partnerships, because you can’t do any of this alone. You also have to CARE.”

Hearing from Susan made it clear that CSR is an important concept not only for companies, but also as consumers. “The onus is on us” she said, in making sure we are thinking of our planet’s future, and not just our immediate needs.

If you’re interested in learning more about CSR, Susan shared some excellent resources including:

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